A first-time offender, Charles Ray Messmer was granted probation before judgment by retired Judge John Cooloahan of Baltimore County.

Begun in 1989 as the first jail-based alcohol/substance abuse treatment program in Maryland, JSAP has become a national model under Messmer's leadership through the Washington County Health Department.

Messmer said he informed his employer, the Health Department, immediately after his arrest and was never relieved of his duties at the Washington County Detention Center.

Attempts to reach his supervisor, Rebecca Hogamier, were unsuccessful.

Messmer, 42, had a blood alcohol level of 0.35 on June 19, according to Deputy Washington County State's Attorney Charles Strong.

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Legally, a blood-alcohol level of 0.10 and above constitutes driving while intoxicated, the Washington County Sheriff's Department said.

"I've been in the field for 20 years and I never thought I could develop the disease," Messmer said in court Monday. "Now I have a different outlook on what my clients are going through."

Outside court, Messmer said he believes problems in his personal life were to blame.

"Alcohol turned on me," said Messmer, who said he would have a drink from time to time prior to June. He said his divorce became final prior to the June incident.

Hagerstown City Police were advised by one of Messmer's neighbor that she had seen him driving erratically in the parking lot of his 20 Richmond St. home.

The neighbor, who was in court Monday but didn't have to testify, called police three times that day, but each time police arrived Messmer was gone, Strong said.

She also told police Messmer was unconscious on a third-floor landing around 12:15 p.m. but friends got him up, Strong said.

"A rum bottle was found at the bottom of the steps and he had a flask in his pocket," Strong said. "He was in need of medical attention when police arrived."

Messmer's 1992 Volkswagen was found damaged but police were unable to find what he hit, Strong said.